Our last question to seventh placed World Junior Road Race Championship rider, Scotsman Alfie George?
‘But what age do you think newly crowned World Junior Road Race Champion, Quinn Simmons REALLY is?’
Seriously though, a cracking ride from the 18 year-old bearded American, barn door of a strong man who goes to World Tour team Trek Segafredo for 2020.
US Team manager, ex-pro, Roy Knickmann had this to say;
“The US junior team rode like a Pro Tour team dictating even moment of the 148km road race.
“Selfless riding by every member of the team resulted in a US World Champion as well as a bronze medal.
“Huge day for the guys.”
Can’t argue with that.
But also an excellent performance from Scotland’s Alfie George riding for GB to take seventh in a race of attrition race on a miserable day on tough Yorkshire roads.
It was a nice morning up in picturesque Richmond for the start with 140 plus riders lining up in the old town square.
We caught up with big Kiwi, Finn Fisher-Black for a chat, he won the Junior Tour of the Kingdom up in Scotland, earlier in the year.
His main goal was the junior time trial Worlds but a broken wrist compromised that and in the end he was happy with 10th place.
Kiwi mechanic Craig Geater – an old friend of ours – was looking after the young New Zealanders and comparing notes with Italian cycling guru and former multi Italian TT champion, Marco Pinotti.
Marco’s Italians were looking way too cool to be juniors but then … they are Italians.
Former World Pursuit Champion and Tour de France star, Brad McGee was quietly and anonymously going about his business of looking after the young Aussies.
We searched in vain for the USA team; we wanted a look at them, knowing them to be one of the strongest teams in the race with riders like eventual winner Quinn Simmons – who won this year’s u23 Ghent-Wevelgem – and Michael Garrison, winner of the ‘Junior Tour de France,’ the Tour de l’Abitibi in Canada.
We found the GB lads though, on their way back from the sign-on with Alfie George happy to stand and chat before the team lined up on their turbos outside their home for the day, the Ineos team bus – nice.
Time to head for the start with the teams signing on together and then being presented to the crowd.
Before the teams lined up at the start, one by one behind the start line, we had a wee peek into the gear check tent where all bikes are vetted to make sure a distance of 7.93 metres/pedal revolution cannot be exceeded.
